Replaceable flexible heating



April 20, 1954 P. F. RosMARlN REPLACEABL FLEXIBLE HEATING INTERLINING UNIT FiledV Nov. 19, 1951 Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED-l STATES ?ATENT OFFICE REPLACEABLE FLEXIBLE HEATING INTERLINING UNIT Philip F. Rosmarin, New York, N. Y.

Application November 19, 1951, Serial N0. 257,093

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to replaceable flexible heating interlining units for garments.

In extremely coldy climates and at very high altitudes, warm clothing is insuicient in itself to keep the body warm. At best, warm clothing merely retains the b ody heat and prevents it from escaping and. it serves as a barrier between the body and the cold-v air surrounding the body. It has been foundl that. heat-producing means are required,l inadditionl to warm` clothing, to keep the body reasonably and comfortably warm. This is particularly true of men in the armed services since their ability to conduct active warfare depends in. largev measurel upon their ability to maintain their body temperature at relatively comfortable levels;V A-n army cannot march on frozenfeet, andgun triggers cannot be pulled by frozen fingers.

It is accordingly the principalV object of this invention toV provide portableY heating means which may be carried by or' inserted into the clothing so as to produce such heat as may be necessary to maintain theY body at a reasonably comfortable temperature. rfhe heat-producing means constituting. the present. invention: may be providedv `the form of a 'padded interlining unit which may .be applied? to various parts of the body. For example, it is well known/,that the body extremities are most'susceptible to frostbite, and heating units in accordance withl the present invention may be inserted into mittens or gloves yandsimilarly into leggings, etc'.,.in-o1"der` Similar' to prevent the freezing of the limbs. units may be applied to other parts of the body and they may be made in varying sizes so as to cover varying areas of the body. .For purposes of. illustration, the present invention will be described solely in terms of its application to a mitten.

ln-v the preferred form ofthis invention, the heat producing means comprises a sealed envelope containing padding. and a heat-producing chemical composition'. The heat-producing composition is normally inactive and it may be acti'- vated by applying to it. a suitable liquid. This liquid is contained in one orv more small containers mounted on the sealed envelope. Communication between said containers. andv the chemical composition is provided, but means is also provided for preventing such communication until' it is desired to activate the chemical composition and thereby to produce heat. Activation of the chemical composition may require acontinuous flow of. oxygen and this may be provided by simply incorporating suitable openings into the envelope to allow the air to enter.

The preferred form ci this invention above described is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an exploded view showing a mitten and a mitten-shaped heating unit made inv accordance with this invention, which is adapted to be inserted. into the mitten.

Fig. 2 is another viewof thev mitten-shaped heating unit showing the side which is opposite the side shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section throughy the mitten, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. i is an enlarged perspective view, in section, showing the construction of the mittenshaped heating unit.

Fig. 5 is an enlargedfragmentaryv section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the communication and closure means between the unit proper and the container of activating liquid.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing how the liquidl container communicates withthe unit.

Figures 7 to 9 illustrate another closure means comprising a spring. clip means,y FigureV '7 being a plan view thereof and Figures 8 and 9 showing two side views thereof normal to Figure '7 and to one another.

Mitten Mi shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing is intended to' accommodate the mitten-shaped heating unitl. The mitten has a palm portion It anda portion it which extends across the back of the hand. A partition lis provided in the mitten. toseparate it into an upper compartment 2i! which :is intended to accommodate the heating unit l2, and a lower compartment 22 which is intended to accommodate the hand. A slide fastener 2e constitutes a closure for upper compartment 2liv to retain the heating unit. In all, other respects rmitten-lilmay `be of conventional construction.

The construction of heating unit I2 is best shown in Figs. 4. and 5. It will there be seen that the heating unit includes a `waterproof envelope consisting of an upper covering sheet 25 and a lower covering sheet 26 which may be integral with each other or attached to each other and sealed-along their respective edges. v These two sheets which together constitute the envelope or" the heating unit may be made of any suitable material such as nyloncloth coated with neoprene rubber and united in any suitable manner as by cementing or sewing, etc. along theirrespective edges. In this particular application of the invention, it will be" noted that the envelope consists of a handl portion including the" thumb, in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

Inside the envelope and immediately below the upper covering member 25 is a sheet or layer 28 of porous cloth, such as muslin. Below the muslin cloth is a bat or layer 30 of cotton wadding or wool or other suitable material. Below the cotton wadding is a layer 32 of a chemical composition, hereinafter more fully described, which evolves heat when properly activated. Below the chemical layer is a second bat 34 of suitable material such as wool or cotton wadding. Underneath the latter bat is a sheet or layer 36 of metallic cloth or wire mesh or any other similar material, although strangely enough a layer of newspaper will function substantially as well as the metallic cloth or wire mesh. Aluminum coated fabric and aluminum cloth have been found satisfactory for this purpose. The live layers or plies mentioned, namely 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 are quilted together as shown for convenience in handling and to insure maintenance of'uniform distribution of the dry chemicals. It will, of course, be seen that the last-mentioned layer 36 rests upon the lower covering member 26 of the envelope.

The chemical composition which constitutes layer 32 may be conventional in formula and any suitable heat-producing compound may be used for the purposes of this invention. It is, of course, essential that the production of heat be long sustained and that the temperature produced be adequate, but not excessive. Naturally, variations in the formula and quantity of the material used and other conditions which will shortly be described will be productive of greater or lesser quantities of heat over longer or shorter periods of time. Illustrative of the chemical formulae which lave been found suitable for the purposes of this invention are the following:

Example I Chemical Substance: Parts by weight It will be noted that two collapsible tubular containers 38 and 40, respectively, are attached to the envelope of the heating unit and more particularly to its upper covering member 25. These tubular containers are intended to contain a suitable activating liquid such as water or a water-alcohol solution for activating the chemical composition constituting layer 36.

Since the construction of the two tubular containers is identical, it will suffice to describe only one, namely, tubular container 38 shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

'Tubular container 38 is closed at its forward end 42. This may be done in any suitable way as by sewing or cementing, etc. It will, of course, be understood that tubular container 38 may be made of the same material as the envelope of the heat-producing unit, and it may be secured to the top covering member 25 thereof in any suitable manner. The application of heat or cement are two possible methods of attaching the tubular container to the envelope. Also if desirable, the

envelope and containers may be made or molded as a single integral unit. Holes 4 are formed in the upper covering member 25 of the envelope and registering holes 46 are formed in the tubular container 38. When the tubular container is in the position which it is shown to occupy in Fig. 6, communication may be had between the inside of said tubular container and the inside of the envelope through holes M and 66.

The liquid in the collapsible tubular containers will trickle through the registering holes 44-46, or it may be forced through by squeezing the tubular container, and it will be absorbed by the several layers of cloth and padding which the envelope contains. When the moisture encounters the chemical composition sandwiched between the layers, heat is produced. The number and size of holes 44 and 66 will determine the rate of flow of the liquid from the tubular container to the envelope and the rapidity with which heat will be produced. Other variables are, of course, the nature of the chemical composition itself and the porosity of the padding which surrounds the chemical composition.

Another important factor is the availability of oxygen as one of the elements in the heating reaction above mentioned. To secure a desired supply of oxygen, slits 48 are formed in the lower covering member 26 of the envelope and these slits are just large enough to allow sufficient air to enter the envelope and to allow such gases as may be produced by the heating reaction to escape from the envelope.

Fig. 5 shows how the activating liquid may be prevented from prematurely entering the envelope. It will be noted vthat the forward end of the tubular container may be folded over upon itself one or more times and its folds are inserted under a strip or band 50 which is fastened at both ends to the upper covering member 25 of the envelope. rThis band tends to secure the folds, and it will be understood that when the tubular container is folded in such manner, the passage of liquid to the envelope will be prevented. It may be found desirable to apply a certain amount of pressure to the folds in order to prevent the leakage of liquid therethrough, and this may be done by inserting a piece of cardboard 52 or the like between said band 50 and the folds 53 of the tubular container.

Obviously, other valve means may be used to seal oi the liquid from the envelope until heat is needed.

One such valve or closure means which has been found extremely satisfactory is illustrated in Figs. '7, 8 and 9. In this modification, a spring clip 15 is used to clamp together the'folds 53 of the tubular container 38. The clip l5 includes a bar T8 which is bent upon itself forming a bight 16 and continuing as a resilient bar 'il having a nose 86 which may be entered under the hooked locking end 79 of the bar l. To facilitate the operation of the resilient bar ll there is extended from said bar a manipulating thumb 'piece 8| which may be used for depressing the bar 'il' out of the notch in the hooked end l. The application of the clip l5 to the folds of the container 30 is readily apparent.

When it is desired to start the reaction between the liquid and the chemical composition, all that need be done is to pull the tubular container outwardly to its unfolded position as shown in. Fig. 6, or remove clip 'i5 of Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The liquid is now free to enter the envelope through registering holes 44 and d6. It may here bel stated that the liquid may be inserted into the tubular container after its forward end is folded over and sealed off in the manner above described. This may be done by simply inserting the iiquid through the back; end 5d of the tubular container and then sealing the back end in any suitable manner as for example by means of clips or staples 55, or cement. Retaining loops 5l may be provided into which the free end oi the collapsible tube may be inserted to insure against free movement of the tube.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of this invention, and it will be clearly understood that this preferred. forrn may be modied and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A heat producing fiexible interlining for articles of clothing comprising an envelope, padding in said envelope, a heating compound enclosed within said padding, a coilapsible tube having a part of one of its walls secured contiguously to one of the walls of said envelope, said contiguous walls having permanently registering holes extending therethrough to provide communication between said tube and said envelope, means for closing said passageway, an activating liquid in said collapsible tube, said activating liquid being absorbed by the padding to react with the heating compound to produce heat when the closing means is removed from the passageway allowing passage of the liquid from the tube into the envelope, said envelope having small openings therethrough to provide communication between the inside thereof and the atmosphere whereby to enable atmospheric air to enter said envelope and to supply oxygen to the extent that it may be required for the reaction between said heating compound and said liquid.

2. A heat-producing iiexible interlining in aocordanoe with claim l, wherein the collapsible tube is folded over upon itself where it joins the rst envelope to close oiic the passageway between the tube and envelope, a band being provided on the iirst envelope to engage the folds of the tube near its root to prevent unfolding thereof and thereby to prevent opening of the passageway.

3. A heat-producing flexible interlining in accordance with claim l, wherein the envelope and the tube are made of neoprene-coated nylon fabric.

4. A heat-producing exible interlining in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating compound is provided in the form of a layer quilted between two absorbent paddings.

5. A heat-producing flexible interlining in accordance with claim l, wherein the heating compound is provided in the form of a layer sandwiched between two absorbent paddings.

6. A heat-producing flexible interlining in accordance with claim l, wherein the heating compound is provided in the form of a layer sandwiched between two absorbent paddings, a sheet of muslin fabric being disposed in covering relation to one of the paddings and a sheet of metallized cloth being disposed in covering relation to the other padding.

7. A heat-producing nexible interlining in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating compound is provided in the form of a layer sandwiched between two absorbent paddings, a sheet of muslin fabric being disposed in covering relation to one of the paddings and a sheet of metallized cloth being disposed in covering relation to the other padding, and wherein all of the several layers contained within the envelope are quilted together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 858,848 Allison July 2, 1907 1,502,744 Perrault July 29, 1924 1,659,185 Baker Feb. 14, 1928 1,714,741 Urquhart May 28, 1929 1,970,081 Eisendrath Aug. 14, 1934 2,157,169 Foster May 9, 1939 2,371,521 Heywood et a1 Mar. 13, 1945 2,429,973 Alexander Nov. 4, 1947 2,465,117 Pierson et al Mar. 22, 1949 2,541,736 Alexander Feb. 13, 1951 2,573,791 Howells Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 161,501 Germany June 30, 1905 

